MY home computer came with a game called "Sim City." As mayor/czar you start play with a blank map and an annual budget to spend on infrastructure: roads, utilities, schools, hospitals, police and fire stations, ports, railroads, etc. As you spend, virtual people called "Sims" arrive and their houses, factories and businesses pop up on your map. Cyber city apes real life
You set taxes and enact laws with no meddling from a city council or legislature. Set taxes too low, however, and there's not enough money to build schools, zoos, sewers and convention centers. Teachers go on strike, other cities recruit your cops and the conference drops your college teams.
On the other hand, raise taxes too high and Sims move to Las Vegas, your department store goes into Chapter 11, vacant lots appear and tax revenues dip. Sound familiar?
Of course, you can cut taxes, borrow money and give the Sims what they want right away -- maybe throw in a Rolling Stones concert. Loan payments will put a big dent in your budget, but keep borrowing, inventing new fees and finding new things to tax and you'll get by, providing inflation offsets your debt.
Inevitably, the Sims will demand tax cuts, smaller class sizes, wider highways, casino gambling and free garbage pickup -- just like real life. When you cut taxes the computer cheers; when you raise them it boos. Unlike real life, you can turn off the speakers.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.